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Our Minor Naval Wars 



By Rear Admiral James A* Greer, U. S. N. 



Our Minor Naval Wars 



By Rear Admiral James A. Greer, U. S. N. 

This paper, largely compiled from the naval histories found 
in most libraries, has been prepared for the purpose of re- 
freshing the memory of those who have not had time, oppor- 
tunity, or inclination to follow a study that has become a 
subject of paramount interest. 

The story of the trials and tribulations incident to the crea- 
tion and development of the navy after the close of the Revo- 
lutionary War, with also a reference to some interesting 
events in connection with what may be termed our Minor 
Naval Wars. 

Attention has not been called to the "War of 1812" and 
the naval operations of the war between the States. These 
are deserving of separate papers, the former as developing 
the value of heavy ships, good marksmanship, and the adop- 
tion of new ideas in naval gunnery. The latter in changing 
all existing ideas of naval warfare, brought about by the in- 
genuity of Ericsson, exemplified in the Monitor, in contradis- 
tinction to the comparatively poorly protected ironclads of 
that day. 

It is with feelings of distress and shame not unmingled 
with indignation, that. the patriotic American of these days 
reads such parts of the history of his country as have a bear- 
ing upon the navy during the years that immediately fol- 
lowed the War of the Revolution. 

As soon as that war was over all the personnel of the 
naval service was turned adrift and every vessel was sold. 
Why was this? The sacrifice was made, because the people 
of the new nation feared that scheming politicians might use 
the navy to enslave their own people. 

The business men looked around to see how they could 



l^. /Sff. 



2 OUR MINOR NAVAL WARS. 

retrieve the losses brought upon them by the war, and found 
but two sources of income worthy of consideration — the com- 
merce of the seas and agriculture. 

Vessels were rapidly built and the contest for supremacy 
in trade which had much to do with bringing on the War of 
the Revolution was renewed with energy. As an example, I 
refer to the fact that so small a vessel as an "Albany sloop," 
the Enterprise, Captain Dean, of eighty tons burden, sailed 
in 1785 from New York to Canton, China, with a page map 
from a school geography for a chart, and returned the same 
year in safety, being the first vessel to make the direct pas- 
sage from New York to China waters. British merchants 
saw with dismay that Yankee ships were chosen by shippers 
because they were safe and swift. 

About this time the Barbary States were levying tribute 
from every sea-faring nation ; Great Britain deliberately en- 
couraged these pirates because they harrassed other nations 
and who, on her paying a small tribute, on account of her 
powerful navy, left her commerce wholly unmolested. 

Previous to 1793, Portugal had by means of a strong fleet, 
kept near the Straits of Gibraltar, protected her com- 
merce. By an imdcrstanding with tlic United States the 
American flag was protected and convoy furnished when 
needed. Under an agreement of the so-called Christian 
Powers, Great Britain was allowed to act for all in minor 
matters when negotiating with the Barbary States. The 
British agent at Algiers bargained secretly for a truce 
between the Dey and Portugal, which for certain considera- 
tions was to last a year, and Portugal was not to afford protec- 
tion to any nation against Algerinc cruisers. The only nation 
that had been protected was the American. This truce was 
undoubtedly planned to turn the pirates against American 
vessels. It was done secretely, without even consulting the 
Portugese Government, and it was only prevented from ab- 
rogation by strong British influence at the Portugese Court. 
This was in 1793. 

.^s early as July, 1785, American vessels had been cap- 
tr-.red by these pirates, and the crews made slaves. This went 



Gtitirotn 
ttlrs. r/arcus Benjcmtn 
Dec. 5, a 962 



OUR MINOR NAVAI, WARS. 3 

on for years. Did the United States declare war at once? 
They could not. There was not a war-ship afloat bearing the 
American flag, and up to 1798 tribute was paid to the Al- 
gerines to secure the release of the captives in hand, and it is 
a matter of surprise and mortification to know that on one 
occasion the United States presented the Dey with a frigate 
and presents, amounting in all to the value of about one 
million dollars. 

After all the humiliations the United States had submitted 
to, it was only by a majority of two in Congress, that a reso- 
lution authorizing a naval force adequate to the protection 
of our commerce was adopted. It was approved on March 
27, 1794. 

Six frigates, among them the famous Constitution, and sev- 
eral smaller vessels were laid down upon what was called the 
American plan, suggested by Joshua Humphreys, a Quaker 
ship-builder. His idea, in brief, was, that the ships should 
be fast-sailing enough to either fight or run at will, and when 
they chose to fight they must be equal, ship for ship, with 
anything afloat ; they must be longer and broader than the 
existing type and not so high out of the water. He advocated 
other strong and reasonable arguments for the proposed 
model, a very important one claimed being increased sta- 
bility. The theories of Humphreys were accepted then, and 
with some modifications have prevailed in the United States 
Navy to this day. A number of smaller vessels were also 
added to the navy. 

In 1796 the maritime powers of Europe became involved 
in what was almost a general war, and their measures of hos- 
tility against each other had a direct tendency to trespass on 
the privileges of neutrals. 

The two great belligerents in the war that succeeded the 
French Revolution gradually encroached upon the rights of 
the Americans. The French not only captured British ships 
within our waters, but took the same liberties with Ameri- 
cans also. All efforts to obtain redress failed. 

In April, 1798, the Government recommended to Congress 
a plan of armament and defense which it was hoped would 



4 OUR MINOR NAVAL WARS. 

Stop the aggressions and avert an open conflict. The depre- 
dations of the French reached a pass that could no longer be 
submitted to with honor. 

Under the Act of May 28, 1798, American cruisers were au- 
thorized to capture any French vessel found near the coast 
preying upon American commerce, and the Constitution and 
Delazvare sailed under such instructions. In June, 1798, the 
French vessel Croyable, which had taken several American 
ships, was captured by the Delazvare and sent into Philadel- 
phia. This was before Congress on July 7, 1798, had 
solemnly abrogated the treaty of alliance formed between 
France and the United States in the War of the Revolution, 
on the plea that the terms had been frequently disregarded 
by France and that the latter country, in face of solemn re- 
monstrances continued to uphold a system of predatory war- 
fare on the commerce of the United States. An express dec- 
laration of war was avoided in these measures, nor was it re- 
sorted to throughout the controversy. On July 9, 1798, Amer- 
ican commanders were authorized by Congress to capture 
French cruisers wherever found. 

When the hostilities began our navy consisted of twenty- 
two vessels. 

On February 9, 1799, the Constellation, Captain Truxton, 
after a brilliant affair, lasting about one hour, captured, near 
St. Kitts, West Indies, the French frigate, I'Insurgente, and 
sent her to St. Kitts. She lost twenty men killed and forty- 
one wounded. The American loss was two killed and three 
wounded. The I'Insurgente was taken into our navy, and in 
July, 1800, sailed on a cruise from which no tidings have ever 
been received. 

On the night of February 2, iSoo, there was a fight near 
Guadaloupe, West Indies, between the Constellation, fifty 
guns, throwing 826 pounds of metal, and the French frigate 
La Vengeance, fifty-two guns, throwing 1,115 pounds. La 
Vengeance lost fifty killed and one hundred and ten wounded ; 
the Constellation lost twenty-five killed and mortally wounded, 
and fourteen wounded. This was a fight in which the Ameri- 
can Captain (Truxton) withheld his fire under the greatest 



OUR MINOR NAVAL WARS. 5 

provocation, until he was able to make it tell with crushing 
effect. He constantly impressed upon the gunners the neces- 
sity of aiming and firing with deliberation. This method has 
for many years prevailed in the United States Navy and has 
been fostered and encouraged by those in power to such an 
extent that recently the attention of the nation and the world 
has been called to the value of such instruction. At midnight, 
in this running fight, the fire of the enemy died out entirely, 
the victory seemed won ; it was, in fact, won over and over 
again, for the French flag had been lowered at least twice 
during the fight, but the people of the Constellation did not 
see it on account of the smoke and darkness, and the French- 
man, very properly, under the circumstances, fought on. 
About this time the mainmast of the Constellation (whose rig- 
ging had been shot away), fell, causing the loss of a mid- 
shipman and several men. The enemy slipped away and ran 
into Curacoa. The La Vengeance deserves credit for her es- 
cape by continuing the fight when in sore straits. There 
were several other combats of a stirring nature. 

This "high seas war" with France began on May 28, 1798, 
and was ended February 3, 1801, when a treaty of peace was 
ratified by the United States Senate. Under its terms all 
Government vessels captured on either side were to be re- 
stored. The Americans returned three vessels. No Ameri- 
can war ships had been captured except the Retaliation, which 
was originally taken from the French. Seventy-six other 
French vessels (some of them privateers), had been captured 
and were retained. 

Spears says : "The patriotic American does not care to dwell 
on this trouble with a people that had rendered such great 
aid when the nation was struggling for life against the op- 
pressor." 

All will admit that France materially assisted the colonies 
during the War of the Revolution. When the question is 
asked, "Why was this?" the answer given by the majority is 
that it was on account of sympathy. This is all nonsense. 
France at that time was a monarchy and at war with Great 
Britain, and any alliance she could make against her was a 
godsend. Before one was agreed upon, Lafayette and others. 



6 OUR MINOR NAVAL WARS. 

as individuals, fled from France and espoused the cause of 
the colonies. 

The selfish nature of France was shown when not having 
the assistance of the United States in her wars under the 
Directory, she immediately turned upon us because it was 
thought we could not defend ourselves. This illusion, as I 
have shown, was thoroughly dissipated. 

Neither France nor any other nation has ever fully shown 
that they were friendly to the United States. The nearest 
approach to real friendship has been from Russia. When 
analyzed, it will be found that the friendship of nations de- 
pends, as a rule, upon the commercial aspect, and in my 
opinion all such expressions as "blood is thicker than water," 
or its equivalent, are not worth the paper upon which they 
are written. 

We now come to the conflicts with the pirates of the Med- 
iterranean. These were made necessary, as already referred 
to, because, in the supposed interests of her trade, a civilized 
nation urged on the Barbary whelps to tear the peaceful pas- 
ser-by. Not only did the British agent negotiate a treaty by 
which the pirates could be turned loose into the Atlantic, es- 
pecially to prey on American commerce, but a British sub- 
ject, named Lisle, was Admiral of the Tripolitan fleet. Then 
it was that the Bashaw of Tripoli, seeing the success of the 
Dey of Algiers in levying blackmail on the United States, 
declared war against us. 

On May 20, 1801, a "squadron of observation," consisting 
of four vessels, under command of Captain Richard Dale (the 
officer who distinguished himself when first lieutenant of 
the Banlwmmc Richard, with Paul Jones), was ordered to the 
Mediterranean. Upon the appearance of this squadron off 
Algiers, the wrath of the Dey, which had not been appeased 
by the presents (including a vessel), was suddenly modified, 
but the Bashaw of Tripoli was not so easily moved. 

The first fight occurred between the Enterprise and the war 
polacre Tripoli, which was captured after a sharp action, in 
which the enemy twice acted in a treacherous manner after 
surrendering, The squadron was not strong enough to bat- 



OUR MINOR NAVAL WARS. 7 

ter the walls of Tripoli, and the Bashaw refused to make a 
treaty. A weary blockade of the port followed. 

On October 31, 1803, the Philadelphia, Captain Bainbridge, 
(unprovided with accurate charts), while chasing a cruiser, 
ran hard and fast aground. The enemy's gunboats opened 
fire, to which but a feeble reply could be made, and when the 
tide ebbed the vessel was helpless, and at five o'clock in the 
afternoon the flag was hauled down. Three hundred and fif- 
teen persons surrendered and they were plundered of every- 
thing. A few days later the vessel was hauled ofif and towed 
to an anchorage under the castle, the enemy having recovered 
and replaced the guns, anchors, and shot that had been 
thrown overboard to lighten her. 

The prisoners were confined in filthy dungeons and other- 
wise ill treated. Through the aid of the Danish Consul at 
Tripoli, Mr. N. C. Nissen, Bainbridge, on December 5, 1803, 
sent a letter, written in lime juice, to the American fleet, sug- 
gesting a plan by which the Philadelphia might be destroyed. 
This was adopted, and from these (all hands) wishing to un- 
dertake the enterprise Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, Jr., was 
selected to command. At Syracuse the captured ketch Mas- 
tico was fitted out and sailed on February 9, 1804, for Tripoli. 
On the night of February i6th, the ketch, maintaining her 
character as a merchantman, sailed into the harljor, with, of 
course, the majority of her crew of sixty-two men and a dozen 
young officers concealed. The wind failing, the ketch 
fortunately drifted toward the Philadelphia. About ten o'clock 
the pilot, by Decatur's order, steered so as to foul the rigging 
of the Philadelphia. Upon being hailed, the Malta pilot re- 
plied that ihey had lost their anchors and wished to make fast 
until others could be procured. After some working with a 
boat, which succeeded in making a line fast to the cable, the 
men began hauling in. Meanwhile the Tripolitans had sent a 
stern line. The ketch was within ten yards of the ship when 
the tension on the stern line threw her broadside to the frig- 
ate. Then came the cry, "Americanos !" "Americanos !" 
The moment for action had come. The momentum al- 
ready gained was enough to land the ketch fair in place 
where grapnels were thrown, successfully, upon which 



8 OUR MINOR NAVAL WARS. 

Decatur cried out, "Boarders Away!" He slipped for a 
moment and this gave Midshipman Morris (father of George 
Morris, the hero of the Cumberland), the honor of being the 
first on board ; then followed Decatur and the rest. The 
Americans cleared the quarter deck and charged forward. 
The enemy fled, many jumping overboard, others ran below, 
where they were killed or disabled by the men who had en- 
tered through the ports, some hid and were destroyed later 
by the explosion. In ten minutes all show of resistance was 
ended. A rocket conveyed to those outside the information 
that the vessel was captured. She was most effectually fired 
and the gallant band hastened on board the ketch, Decatur, 
who was only twenty-four years old, being the last man to 
leave the burning ship. The time employed was twenty-five 
minutes and but one American was wounded. With a light 
wind, and aided by the large oars, eight on a side, the ketch 
got away to the sea. The Tripolitans fired at her from the 
shore batteries, but fortunately did no damage. I will not 
attempt to describe the destruction of the Philadelphia by fire, 
culminating in her entire obliteration by the explosion of the 
magazine, and it is impossible to fully comprehend the feel- 
ings of the successful heroes and their compatriots who were 
confined in the prisons of Tripoli. 

After this there were several small but gallant contests 
between the combatants. The Constitution and several of the 
smaller vessels frequently silenced the batteries, but they had 
no adequate force to land and hold possession. There were 
enough personal incidents in this war to fill a volume. 

Captain Preble, in order to annoy the enemy, decided to 
send a fire-ship among the shipping. The Intrepid, which 
under the name of Mastico had been used in the burning of 
the Phil-adelphia, was selected and fully prepared with com- 
bustibles, powder, shells and the like, under the command of 
Lieutenant Somers. It was intended to get her in among the 
enemy's shipping and then fire her, starting also a train, which 
was expected to burn fifteen minutes before it reached ihe 
magazine. Boats were taken along to give the crew a chance 
to rejoin their friends outside of the harbor. The attempt 
was made on the night of September 4, 1804. At 8 o'clock the 



OUR MINOR NAVAL WARS. 9 

ketch left the flag-ship with a fair wind. She was seen from 
the Nautilus to pass into the channel. At this moment guns 
were fired from the shore in rapid succession. The light of a 
lantern carried by one who ran, was seen passing along the 
deck of the ketch. An instant later a hell of flame burst up to 
the sky, a shock followed that made the vessels beyond the 
bar quiver, and with the shock came a roar that was deafening. 
The Intrepid had disappeared and no tidings were ever re- 
ceived of those who embarked in her. 

Our naval force was increased and the enemy was constantly 
blockaded and assailed. About this time there was an up- 
rising, assisted by Americans, in the Bashaw's dominions. 
The capitol of his chief province was lost to him, and be- 
coming alarmed he offered to deliver all the prisoners for 
$60,000 and to agree never again to trouble American com- 
merce. This ofifer was accepted and peace followed. 

The fleet sailed to Tunis, whose ruler stimulated by the 
British Consul-General had expelled the American agent. 
Terms of peace were dictated to him under the muzzles of the 
guns of the fleet. That was a matter of wonder to the nations 
of Europe, for never had such a thing been done before. 

The treaties concluded with the African pirates in 1805 were 
more favorable to the United States than to any other power, 
yet we still agreed to pay a blackmail tribute for the sake of 
peace. 

The attitude of Great Britain to the United States in its re- 
lations to the pirates has been referred to, but during the War 
of 1812 it was more marked. She practically allied herself 
with them as she did with the Indians in our war of the Revo- 
lution. 

No sooner did the Dey of Algiers hear of the new difficulty 
of the American nation, than he raised points about the pay- 
ment of the annual tribute and made additional claims. Our 
Consul-General in view of the trouble with England yielded. 
Upon the flimsy ground that certain supplies sent as tribute 
were of inferior quality, the Dey sent the Consul away. At 
this time the British were furnishing him with an ample outfit 
of military stores. He then fitted out his fleet and sent it in 
search of Yankee merchantmen. It captured but one small 



lO OUR MINOR NAVAL WARS. 

vessel. An American privateer took four prizes into Tripoli 
and Tunis. The rulers of these states promptly delivered 
them to British cruisers. 

Just five days after the ratification of peace with Great Bri- 
tain, the United States declared war against these pirates, and 
fitted out two powerful squadrons under Bainbridge and De- 
catur, which were to unite under Bainbridge when they met 
in the Mediterranean. 

On June 17, 181 5, Decatur fell in with and captured the 
Mashouda, a 46 gun frigate, after a fight in which the pirate 
Admiral displayed much good seamansliip and bravery 
worthier of a better cause, losing his life before the surrender. 
Another war vessel was driven on shore. 

On June 28th, Decatur was ready to treat with the Dey. 
On arriving off Algiers and making signals he received a visit 
from the Swedish Consul and the Captain of the Port. The 
latter, whose bearing was presumptuous, was much surprised 
to learn of the capture of the Mashouda and at once changing 
his manner, begged that hostilities might cease until a treaty 
could be negotiated on shore. Decatur replied "hostilities 
will not cease until a treaty is made, and a treaty will not be 
made anywhere but on board the Guerriere." Next day he 
came out with full power to negotiate. The Americans pre- 
sented the draft of a treaty, which in spite of the efforts of 
the Algerines to have modified was complied with in every 
respect. The American prisoners were released, all claims 
for tribute were relinquished and the owner of the brig Edivin 
was to be paid $10,000. The bold front of Decatur brought 
about this result. As an act of grace on the part of the Ameri- 
cans, the Mashouda was returned. 

On July 15, 1S15, Decatur with his vessels arrived off Tunis, 
and through the Consul made a demand for $46,000 to pay for 
Yankee prizes which had been turned over to the British. 
The Dey under the pressure paid the money. 

Tripoli was reached on August 5th, and after some grumb- 
ling the Bashaw paid $25,000 and released several prisoners. 
Decatur reached the station first and by the time Bainbridge 
arrived, he had practically finished the work. 

Later the Dey of Algiers having been successful in making 



OUR MINOR NAVAL WARS. II 

a. treaty with the British for the release of captives, became 
arrogant and compelled the United States Consul to haul 
down his flag and leave. The timely arrival of the united 
American squadrons brought him as well as the rulers of 
Tunis and Tripoli to terms, and since then we have had no 
war with the Barbary States. 

Shortly after the War of 1812, the Republics of Buenos 
Ayres and Venezuela commissioned privateers to prey on 
Spanish merchantmen. It was not long before these ships 
began to plunder vessels belonging to neutral nations and 
piracy spread to an alarming extent. 

In July, 1817, Captain Oliver Perry, of Lake Erie fame, 
demanded and obtained from Venezuela indemnity for an 
American vessel captured by one of her privateers. 

In 1821, piracy became so general in the West Indies that 
the United States had to take vigorous measures against it. 
A large number of vessels were employed and the service was 
very arduous ; on account of the hiding places of the pirates 
being on small islands and in shoal water boats were much 
used, which placed our people at a disadvantage when attack- 
ing, and in addition they were exposed to climatic conditions, 
which in many cases developed into the scourge of the West 
Indies — the yellow fever. Under many adverse circum- 
stances and with very much loss of life our navy persevered, 
and after many gallant afifairs succeeded in accomplishing its 
object. 

By the middle of 1825, piracy in the West Indies was practi- 
cally ended. 

During the reign of Joseph Bonaparte and Murat in Naples 
from 1806 to 1815, several American vessels were confiscated 
upon what we considered untenable grounds. No satisfactory 
arrangement could be made with the authorities, and the mat- 
ter was diplomatically discussed for years. It seemed to be 
as is usaually the case with the Latins, a case of Manana, but 
Commodore D. T. Patterson, who was the father-in-law of 
the Admiral David D. Porter, when in command of the Medi- 
terranean squadron, 1832-1836, was ordered to assist the 
United States Consul at Naples in collecting two million dol- 
lars of indemnity money. The first demand of the Consul was 



12 OUR MINOR NAVAL WARS 

haughtily rejected. Shortly afterwards the 44 gun frigate 
Brandyzvinc sailed into the harbor of Naples. The demand 
was renewed, but only to be treated as the first. In a few days 
the United States, a "44," joined the Brandyzvinc ; four days 
afterwards the corvette Concord arrived, then two days later 
came her sister-ship, the John Adams; finally on the appear- 
ance of two more American war-ships the Neapolitans yield- 
ed. This incident alone should be an argument for the main- 
tenance of a strong navy, but at present our good people need 
no further one than has been furnished during the war with 
Spain. 

In 1832, the United States frigate Potomac, at Qualla Battoo 
in Sumatra, administered a very severe lesson to the Malays, 
who had seized an American vessel and murdered a portion 
of the crew. 

There were a number of affairs, with marked good results, 
between our vessels and the natives on the coast of Africa 
and in the South Sea Islands, in which they were always 
severely punished for interference with American vessels. 

In the Mexican War our navy had no men-of-war to con- 
tend with, but it was very usefully employed in blockading 
ports, and in covering the landing of troops at various places. 
We also sent expeditions on shore which were usually suc- 
cessful. A large number of merchant vessels were captured. 

There were a number of creditable afifairs in which the 
navy of the United States was engaged, which occurring in 
times of peace attracted little attention and were soon for- 
gotten. 

In 1S52, owing to the splendid diplomacy (backed by a 
strong naval force), of Commodore Matthew C. Perry, Japan 
was opened to the world. 

July 2, 1853, Commander D. R. Ingraham, commanding 
the United States ship St. Louis, at Smyrna, boldly prepared 
to attack the Austrian war vessel, Hussar, which was superior 
in force. 

This was because Martin Kosta, an Austrian, who, two 
years before in New York City, had declared his intention 
of becoming an American citizen, had while in Smyrna on 
business, been seized and confined on board the Hussar. In- 



OUR MINOR NAVAL WARS. 1 3 

graham cleared for action and declared that he would attack 
the Austrian ship, if Kosta was not released by 4 p. m. Be- 
fore that hour satisfactory arrangements were made and the 
international difficulty was tided over. 

While endeavoring to protect the property of American 
residents in Canton, China, November 16, 1856, Commander 
A. H. Foote, of the sloop-of-war Portsmmith, was fired upon 
by one of the forts. An apology being refused, he received 
permission from the officer commanding the squadron to 
avenge the insult. 

On November 20th, after the Portsmmith, San Jacinto and 
Levant had bombarded the Chinese, Foote landed with about 
three hundred sailors and marines with four howitzers, and at- 
tacked the forts. There were four of them, built of granite, 
and mounting one hundred and seventy-six guns with garri- 
sons of about five thousand men. On account of the shoal 
water the boats could not run into the bank, whereupon, the 
men waded ashore and formed into three columns. They 
pushed through the soft mud of the rice fields, dragging the 
howitzers ; fording a creek they charged the works of the first 
fort which mounted fifty-three guns, many of them of heavy 
calibre. The Chinese fled with a loss of about fifty killed. 
The fort on the opposite side now opened on the Americans, 
but was soon silenced by the guns of the captured fort. 

An army from Canton threatened the rear of the Americans, 
but the fire of our seamen caused it to retreat. On the fol- 
lowing day our vessels and boats advanced upon the remain- 
ing forts. In spite of a heavy fire our men pressed forward to 
attack the second fort which mounted forty-one guns. This 
was handsomely carried and its guns turned upon the third 
fortj which also surrendered. Meantime a detachment of 
marines had captured a six gun battery. 

Early on November 22d, the fourth and last fort mounting 
thirty-eight guns was captured. The loss of the Americans 
in these attacks was twelve killed and twenty-eight wounded. 
About four hundred of the Chinese were killed. Having ac- 
complished their purpose the Americans returned to their 
ships. 

On June 25, 1859, Captain Tatnall, in violation of the neu- 



14 OUR MINOR NAVAL WARS. 

trality of the United States in the war between China and 
Great Britain, assisted the Enaflish Admiral who was in sore 
straits at the mouth of the Peiho river, China. 

This cost him his barge, one man killed and the flag lieu- 
tenant badly wounded. Tattnall at that time used the ex- 
pression which we often hear quoted in post-prandial efiforts, 
namely: "Blood is thicker than water." 

In 1859, Paraguay, which refused indemnity for firing on 
one of our naval vessels engaged in surveying, was brought 
to terms by a display of force under Commodore Shubrick. 

June 26, 1863, the American steamer Pembroke, while said to 
be on a peaceful voyage and at anchor in the Inland Sea of 
Japan, was fired upon at one o'clock in the morning by a 
Japanese vessel. (At that time there was a civil war in Japan.) 
She was somewhat damaged and getting underway fortunately 
made her escape. 

Commander D. S. McDougal, commanding the United 
States ship Wyoming, heard of this assault and immediately 
proceeded to the place. On approaching the town of Simon- 
aski, he discovered several vessels (some of them men-of-war), 
at anchor in the harbor. Without any inquiry, upon her stand- 
ing in towards the town he was fired upon by six batteries. 
He practically disabled the vessels in the sharp action that fol- 
lowed. After this he was induced to withdraw as he had no 
force adequate to hold what he seemed to have gained. It 
was a gallant afTair in which the Americans had four killed 
and eleven wounded. The Japanese later made amends for 
the unfortunate affair. 

In September, 1866, the American trading schooner Gen- 
eral Sherman, was captured and destroyed and her crew were 
reported to have been massacred by the natives of Corea. 
Several vain attempts were made by the commanding officers 
of our cruisers to ascertain the fate of these men. 

In 1865 a French army attempted to invade Corea, but were 
driven back with great slaughter. This success made the 
Corcans more than usually arrogant. Reports came to Rear 
Admiral John Rodgers, that some of the crew of the Sherman 
were still confined in Corea. In 1871, he appeared off the 
coast of Corea with his squadron, and assuring the authorities 



OUR MINOR NAVAL WARS. 15 

that his visit was peaceful, merely desiring to gain knowledge 
of the General Sherman and her crew, he began making prep- 
arations to ascend the Ping Yang River. The natives aitected 
to comply with his wishes, but on June 4th, boats which were 
taking soundings in advance of the vessels were fired upon 
by two forts. The Americans responded as well as they could, 
while two of the smaller vessels hastened to their assistance 
and soon silenced the forts with their eight-inch shells. 

As the Corean flag was still flying and no attempt was made 
to apologize for the treacherous attack, six hundred and forty- 
four men were landed, and on June nth carried the forts by 
storm with a loss of three killed, including the gallant Lieu- 
tenant McKee, and seven wounded. Finding it impossible 
to obtain any information of the crew of the General Sherman, 
Admiral Rodgers sailed away July 30th. Subsequently the 
difficulty with the Coreans was diplomatically settled. 

On June 13, 1867, Rear Admiral Henry Bell punished the 
savages of Formosa, for murdering the crew of the American 
bark Rover, by landing a force from the Hartford and Wyom- 
ing, which gallantly drove them into the interior and burned 
their villages. In this afifair Lieutenant Commander A. S. 
Mackensie, a very promising officer, was killed. 

In 1870, a boat expedition from the United States ship 
Mohican, cut out the piratical steamer Forward, which manned 
by a crew of filibusters had been operating on the coast of 
Mexico ; she was anchored in a lagoon near San Bias. The 
Americans despite a galling fire routed the pirates and burned 
the vessel. Lieutenant Wainwright and one man were killed 
and six wounded. 

In conclusion I will ask you to permit me to go back to a 
period anterior to that covered by this compilation. 

In a paper which I read before the District of Columbia 
Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, I overlooked 
a disaster that a mention of at that time might have been of 
some interest, as we had the terrible fate of the Maine fresh 
in our minds. 

The information came from Captain Vincent of Her British 
Majesty's Ship Yarmouth, '64, who says that on March 7, 
1778, while cruising to the eastward of Barbados he fell in with 



1 6 OUR MINOR NAVAL WARS. 

six vessels and bore down upon them. About nine o'clock in 
the morning he succeeded in ranging up on the weather quar- 
ter of the largest and leading vessel. Hoisting her ensign the 
Yarmouth ordered the vessel to show her colors, when the 
American flag was run up and the enemy poured in a broad- 
side. A smart action now began and was vigorously main- 
tained for twenty minutes, when the stranger blew up. The 
two ships were so near to each other, that many fragments of 
the wreck struck the Yartnoiith, among other things an Ameri- 
can ensign, which was not even singed, was blown upon her 
forecastle. 

The sails of the Yarmouth had suffered so much in the en- 
gagement that the successful pursuit of the other vessels was 
out of the question. In this short action she had five men 
killed and twelve wounded. 

On the 1 2th while cruising near the same place a piece of 
wreck was discovered with four men upon it. These men in 
a most wretched condition were picked up, and reported them- 
selves as having belonged to the United States ship Randolph 
— 32 — Captain Nicholas Biddle, the vessel that had blown up 
in action with a British ship on the night of March 7th. 

Out of the crew of three hundred and fifteen, three hundred 
and eleven had perished. How different! One set of brave 
men meeting death in honorable battle, the other murdered 
in a technically friendly port by the action of unknown as- 
sassins. 



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